So, where else is open in NZ and when are some of the other resorts firing up their lifts?

Cardrona and Coronet Peak open next Saturday, June 16th.

Both have had a "taster" day with all the recent fresh snow.

Cardrona has 90cm on its slopes.

Here at PlanetSKI we'll keep you posted...

However it is not looking so good in Australia.

Traditionally resorts open on the Queen's Birthday Weekend - though often it is too early for Mother Nature to provide.

This year is no exception.

There is just a dusting of snow at Thredbo and Perisher.

Thredbo remains closed, while Perisher has just one lift running, the Village Eight Express chairlift.

Mt Buller opened its Blue Bullet chairlift at the weekend.

"Thanks to the amazing work of our snowmakers and groomers Mt Buller is excited to be the only Victorian resort to run a chairlift this weekend for skiing and boarding, and of course sightseeing," said Laurie Blampied, the general manager of Buller Ski Lifts, to local media.

The resort is trying to be as optimistic as possible:

Skiers and snowboarders are praying for snow, or at least a drop in the temperature so the snow guns can get to work.

THURSDAY 7th JUNE

It's show time as the ski season gets underway with more resorts opening.

Perisher is the first resort to open in Australia and has just posted this video:

We will have more details later of the opening day.

And The Remarkables in New Zealand has also opened today, Thursday 7th June, as we reported earlier.

Conditions were described as "groomed packed powder".

The Remarkables, New Zealand

"WE'RE OPEN! Come on up and get some freshies! All lifts are running and there's even some features up in the park," said a statement from the resort.

And here is what it looked like on the opening day:

The Remarkables, New Zealand

The Remarkables, New Zealand

The Remarkables, New Zealand

The Remarkables, New Zealand

WEDNESDAY 6th JUNE

Yet another New Zealand ski resort opens early.

As snow continues to fall through New Zealand, bringing a fantastic start to the season, resorts speed up their preparations so keen riders can get in early.

The most recent to spin its lifts before planned is The Remarkables.

It's opening two days early, Thursday 7th June, and it's looking to be a powder day for the opening.

Yesterday the resort had a 10cm covering and it's STILL SNOWING.

The Remarkables

Mt Hutt up by Christchurch is due to open Friday 8th June for Winter '18, pipped to the post by its South Island bud.

As we reported earlier, Mt Ruapehu on North Island opened a day early on 1st June.

Cardrona is also open for business, perhaps it's the time to get down there...

Whakapapa skiing

FRIDAY 1st JUNE

It's the first day of winter 2018 and the ski season Down Under is officially underway.

A metre of snow, keen riders and the season is off in New Zealand.

Happy Valley on Mt Ruapehu opened a day early for its ski enthusiasts raring to get up the hill.

"Blue skies, free lift passes, epic June snow conditions & even a kiwi snowboarding" is how it went.

"We're absolutely stoked to see so many people loving their first taste of the early snow this season. There was around 500 people up here before 1pm, and the numbers just kept on increasing into the afternoon," said Mt Ruapehu Marketing Manager, Matt McIvor, to local media.

Mt Ruapehu, New Zealand

The early season opening is thanks to Mt Ruapehu's new snow making technology and large natural snowfalls in May.

The Turoa ski area may also open earlier as well if the weather keeps delivering snow and cold temperatures.

See below for a separate PlanetSKI feature as we begin our coverage of the ski resorts Down Under.

First up it's a look at the ski resorts in New Zealand, where a team form PlanetSKI is heading to in August.

And in Australia the resort of Perisher is counting down to the 2018 season.

The next time Cardrona sees the sunshine'll be ski day #1 for Winter '18:

THURSDAY 31st MAY

So excited are the resorts in New Zealand with the early snow (up to a metre base!) that as well as Cardona's early weekend opener teaser, Mt Ruapehu is offering FREE SKIING on 1st June.

Celebrations at a very Happy Valley indeed...

No cost for skiing on Friday, 11am - 2pm.

Ruapehu is the first commercial ski area to open in NZ, a day early before it's official start on 2nd June.

Last season's opener saw 2,700 hit the slopes so check back in to see if all this early snow has drawn more in.

Next to open in the Ruapehu area is Whakapapa's lower mountain on 16th June, upper on 20th with Turoa resaort on 29th June.

TUESDAY 29th MAY

The New Zealand resort of Cardrona has received nearly a metre of snow in the past week, three weeks before it is due to open.

"Snow in May does not stay" the saying goes in the Wanaka ski area.

But after requests to open early on the resort's social media accounts, prayers have been answered.

A teaser weekend, the first in June, will see runs open for keen skiers and riders.

"We've been absolutely frothing to get out skiing and snowboarding when it's looking this good - and it's amazing to be able to bring all our guests up to get their fix too," general manager Bridget Legnavksy said.

Cardrona, 28th May

Guns are blazing

25th May, 2018

The season in Australia and New Zealand is approaching with resorts opening next month.

So why are we so excited about it this year here at PlanetSKI?

We're off to the ski fields of Australia and New Zealand in August so we're keeping a vigilant eye on things.

We will have full reports from there later in the summer and will shortly have a guide on the ski resorts Down Under, but in the meantime we're just excited to see the current snowfall.